Shuttle mechanism



Sept. 22, 1931. F, ASHWORTH 1,824,065

SHUTTLE MECHANI SM Original Filed May 19, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 22, 1931. F. AS HWORTH SHUTTLE MECHANISM Original Filed May 19 1920 2 Sh ets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 22, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRED ASHWORTH, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, TO UNITED SHOE MA- CHINERY CORPORATION, OF IPATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY SHUTTLE MECHANISM Original application filed May 19, 1920, Serial No. 382,558. Divided and this application filed November 23,

1923, Serial No. 676,536.

and simplify the construction and mode of operation of shuttle mechanisms.

With this object in View the invention consists .in the construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation of the improved shuttle mechanism; Fig. 2

1; is a front View of a portion of the shuttle mechanism shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional View simllar to Fig. 1 viewed in the opposite direction; Fig. t is a detail transverse sectional view of the bobbin case looking toward the rear of the machine, Fig.

5 is a rear elevation of the bobbin case and- Fig. 6 is a view in front elevation of the head of a lockstitch outsole shoesewing machine in which the present invention is embodied.

centrically with relation to the loop taker.

and is held stationary during the rotation of the loop taker to pass the needle loop over the bobbin thread. The loop taker is continuously rotated and in order that it may operate in proper timed relation with the curved hook needle and the other thread handling devices of the machine, it is caused to make three revolutions during the formation of each stitch.

In the construction illustrated in the drawings, the loop taker comprises an an- Renewed April 4, 1929.

nular gear 10 having an uninterrupted circular series of uniformly spaced peripheral gear teeth which mesh with the teeth of a gear 12 carried by an inclined continuously rotating shaft 14: jo'urnaled in bearings in the frame of the machine. The loop taker is mounted for rotation in a bearing formed in a bracket plate 16 which engages a central annular groove in the teeth of the gear 10 the bracket plate being made in sections for convenience in assembling. On opposite sides of the gear 10 are secured annular plates 18 by means of screws 20, which plates extend slightly beyond the ends of the gear teeth. The bobbin case is held within the loop taker by the engagement of a peripheral flange or rib 22 near the forward open end of the bobbin case with a recess in the loop taker formed by ribs 24 on the gear 10 and on the forward annular plate 18. The bobbin case is held stationary within the loop taker by the engagement of the lower ends of levers 26 with diametrically opposed notches in the forward edge of the bobbin case.

The levers 26 are fulcrumed on a pin 28 secured to the frame and are held in engagement with the notches in the bobbin case by means of torsion springs 29 coiled about the pin. In order that the needle loop as it is carried about the bobbin case by the loop taker may pass by the ends of the levers 26, the

levers are alternately retracted from the bobbin case in the proper timed relation to the travel of the needle loop. The levers are thus retracted by means of cams 30 carried by the shaft 14 which cams act on the upper ends of the levers, the upper ends of the levers being located at opposite sides of the shaft 14.. The bobbin is mounted in the case on the usual split sleeve 27 projecting from the back wall of the bobbin case, and the bobbin case is provided with the usual slot 31 through which the thread passes from the bobbin to the work. The needle loop is carried about the bobbin case by means of a transverse rearwardly inclined recess or slot 33 in the loop taker in which the transverse part of the loop is placed. The slot 33 extends between-two adjacent teeth-of the gear 10 and through the annular plates 18, the slot 33 extending inwardly beyond the gear teeth in order that the loop of thread may clear the bracket plate 16. The bracket plate is cut away to provide an opening through which the thread may be presented to and pass from the loop taker. The peripheries of the annular plates 18 are provided with bevelled portions 34 adjacent the rear wall of the slot 33 in order that the rear wall of the slot may project beyond the forward wall thereby forming a hook like projection or beak which causes the thread to readily enter the slot.

The needle loop is engaged and spread across the loop taker when the needle has reached the limit of its loop drawing stroke and while'the loop is held by the barb of the needle and before it is engaged by the beak of the loop taker by means of a loop spreading arm 36 (Figs. 1 and 3). The loop spreading arm works across the loop taker in a plane parallel to the path of the needle and in close proximity to the needle. The loop spreading arm is mounted in a split collar 40 formed on a rock shaft 42 journaled at its ends on the conical ends of bearing screws 44 threaded through apertures in brackets projecting from the frame. The loop spreading arm is actuated by means of a gear segment 46 secured to the rock shaft 42 which engages teeth formedon the forwardend of a sliding bar 48, the rear end of which bar is provided with a cam roll that engages a'cam groove in a cam disk carried by the driving shaft of themachine. The loop spreading arm is adjustable longitudinally and also toward and from the needle so that it may be accurately positioned relatively to the needle. To this end the loop spreading arm is longitudinally adjustable in the split collar 40 and is adjustable toward and from the needle by adjustment of the screws 44 on which the rock shaft 42 is mounted.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1 gear teeth formed on its periphery eXtending parallel to the axis of the loop taker and having a recess between two adjacent gear teeth extending inwardly beyond the gear teeth for the reception of the transverse part of the needle loop, and a gear engaging the gear teeth for driving the loop taker.

2. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle, a rotary loop taker having an uninterrupted circular series of uniformly spaced gear teeth formed on its periphery and having a recess between two of the gear teeth extending inwardly beyond the gear teeth for the reception of the transverse part of the needle'loop. A gear engaging the gear dle, a rotary loop taker having an uninterrupted circular ser1es of uniformly spaced gear teeth formed on its periphery and having a recess between two of the gear teeth extending inwardly beyond the gear teeth for the reception of the transverse part of the needle loop, a gear engaging the gear teeth for driving the loop taker, and a loop spreader working in a plane parallel to the plane of the needle and across the periphery of the loop taker.

4. A sewing machine having, in combination," stitch forming devices including a needle, a rotary loop taker having an uninterrupted circular series of uniformly spaced gear teeth formed on its periphery and having a recess between two of the gear teeth extending inwardly beyond the gear teeth for the reception of the transverse part of the needle loop, a gear engaging the gear teeth for driving the loop taker, and a loop spreader working in a plane parallel to the plane of the needle and having provision for adjustment toward and from the needle.

5. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a needle, a rotary loop taker having gear teeth formed on its periphery and having a recess 2 in its periphery for the reception of the transverse part of the needle loop, said gear teeth having a central groove extending completely around the loop taker, a supporting bearing for the loop taker engaging the central groove in the gear teeth, and means engaging the gear teeth for driving the loop taker.

6. A sewing machine having, in combination. stitch forming devices including a hook 1: i

needle, a rotary loop taker having an uninterrupted circular series of uniformly spaced gear teeth formed on its periphery and 113V.

ing a recess between two of the gear teeth extending inwardly beyond the gear teeth for the reception of the transverse part of the needle loop, a supporting bearing in which the periphery of the loop taker is journaled, a bobbin case mounted within the loop taker, means for holding the bobbin case stationary, and a gear engaging the gear teeth for driving the loop taker.

7. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle, a rotary loop taker having gear teeth 011 its periphery and having a transverse peripheral recess for the reception of the needle loop, a bobbin case mounted within the loop taker, a pair of diametrically opposed retaining arms engaging the bobbin case to hold the bobbin case stationary during the operation of the machine, cams for alternately disengaging the retaining arms from the bobbin case to permit the needle loop to be carried by the loop taker over'the bobbin case, and means engaging the gear teeth for driving the loop taker.

8. A sewing machine having, in combination, a rotary loop taker comprising a central annular portion having an uninterrupted circular series of uniformly spaced gear teeth formed on its periphery, annular plates secured to opposite faces of said central portion and extending over the sides of the gear teeth, said loop taker having a transverse peripheral recess between two of the gear teeth extending inwardly beyond the gear teeth and forming hooks on said plates to engage the needle loop, and a gear engaging the gear teeth for driving the loop taker.

9. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a curved hook needle, a rotary shuttle arranged with its axis of rotation substantially at right angles to the axis 0]": the needle movement and provided on its periphery with an uninterrupted circular series of uniformly spaced gear teeth arranged to provide a recess between two of the teeth for the reception of the transverse part of the needle loop, and a gear engaging the gear teeth for driving the shuttle.

10. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a curved hook needle, a rotary shuttle having an uninterrupted circular series of uniform- 1y spaced gear teeth formed on its periphery arranged to provide a recess between two of the gear teeth for the reception of the transverse part of the needle loop, a gear engaging the gear teeth for driving the shuttle, and a loop spreader working in a plane parallel to the plane of the needle to spread the loop across the periphery of the shuttle.

11. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a curved hook needle, a rotary shuttle arranged with its axis of rotation substantially at right angles to the axis of the needle movement and provided 011 its periphery with an uninterrupted circular series of uniformly spaced gear teeth arranged to provide a recess between two of the teeth for the reception of the transverse part of the needle loop, a gear engaging the gear teeth for driving the shuttle, and a loop spreader working in a plane parallel to the plane of the needle.

FRED ASHWORTH. 

